Gambians return home, celebrate Jammeh exit

Monday, January 23, 2017 - 01:06

Gambians celebrated in the streets on Sunday after a West African regional military force entered the capital city of Banjul and took control of the presidential palace, the symbolic seat of ex-ruler Yahya Jammeh's 22-year authoritarian regime. Rosanna Philpott reports.

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A welcoming party on the streets of the Gambian capital.
Hundred's celebrating the arrival of West African troops on Sunday as they took control of Banjul's presidential Palace, the former seat of ex President Yahya Jammeh and his 22 year authoritarian regime.
The military are preparing for the safe return of newly elected President Adam Barrow after Jammeh refused to step down despite losing an election in December, Barrow fled into exile to Senegal.
After weeks of tension, Jammeh's finally left as a regional military force prepared to forcibly remove him.
He boarded a plane to seek exile in Equitorial Guinea, but even amid the celebrations, troubling details of his departure.
The new government saying Jammeh's withdrawn some 12 million dollars from state coffers in the last two weeks.
His exit already prompting the return of some of the 45,000 Gambians who fled to Senegal amid the turmoil.

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